Bachelor of Arts Degree-Asian Studies

Southeast Asia Option

Program Description

Students at the University of Washington may work toward a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Asian Studies (Southeast Asia Option). The degree is earned through the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. The program seeks to promote the study of Southeast Asia--Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Timor Loro'sae, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam--with special emphasis on those regions from which significant numbers of migrants and refugees have resettled in Washington State and the U.S., and which are important to our role in the Pacific Rim. The particular area strengths of faculty at the University of Washington lie in the study of Burma, Timor Loro'sae, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Core courses introducing students to the cultures and societies of the region are offered in the Jackson School and in various departments, notably the Departments of American Ethnic Studies, Anthropology, Asian Languages & Literature, Comparative Literature, Communications, History, The School of Music, and Political Science. Additional courses are offered by the Departments of American Ethnic Studies, Economics, English, Geography, Law, Schools of Marine Affairs, Music, Nursing, Public Health, Public Affairs, Social Work, and Sociology. Language instruction is offered at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels in Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese and Indonesian, at beginning level in Khmer, and by independent study for Burmese.

Southeast Asia faculty at the UW are drawn primarily from the College of Arts and Sciences and from the Health Sciences. Other faculty from Business Administration, Fisheries, Forest Resources, Law, and Oceanography also have research interests in Southeast Asia or are involved in the training of students from Southeast Asia.

- Laurie J. Sears, Chair

Admission to Major - open major

Any undergraduate in good standing may declare Asian Studies (Southeast Asia concentration) as a major.

Degree Requirements

Language

Proficiency through the second-year college level of a Southeast Asian language.

A second Asian civilization course or a thematic/cross-regional course chosen from an approved list (5 credits);

A minimum of 30 credits in approved upper-division courses on Southeast Asia, including 10 credits in required topic courses and 20 additional credits in approved elective courses, focusing on such areas as Southeast Asian history, society and culture, government and politics, and development issues. In addition, an approved research paper is required in one of the upper-division courses on Southeast Asia. See the Southeast Asia BA Checklist below.

To view the requirements for the major on a planning follow the link below: